Authors Live: Set Text Special

In celebration of the new, contemporary authors added to the SQA's set texts lists for the National 5 and Highers qualifications, Authors Live will be releasing a special panel event in November. We'll be welcoming Ely Percy (Duck Feet), Jenni Fagan (The Sunlight Pilgrims), and Nadine Aisha Jassat (Auntie) in conversation with BBC Scotland's Bryan Burnett.

You will get insights into the key themes, the authors' processes, hear about the inspiration behind the texts and the messages they hoped to convey as well as getting an understanding of where their work sits in a wider context of Scottish literature. Our aim is to help pupils and learning professionals to unpack these new texts and feel excited to continue exploring them in depth, in a conversation guided by the curriculum but which has reading for pleasure at its heart.

You can explore the list of new set texts for National 5 and Higher English courses here(this link will open in a new window).

We would love to hear from you in advance of this broadcast. Whether or not you will be working with these texts this year, please do get in touch with your questions for Ely, Jenni or Nadine. We welcome your input on what would be helpful for your students to understand in advance of their exams, which themes hold particular interest for you, or anything else you might like to know from these three powerhouse contemporary Scottish authors.

Get involved

Date: Released week beginning Monday 3 November

Audience: S4–S6

Register now to recieve the link to Authors Live: Set Text Special

You can send in your questions for Ely Percy, Jenni Fagan, and Nadine Aisha Jassat via email to [email protected](this link will open in a new window) or by using the hashtag #BBCAuthorsLive on X (formerly known as Twitter). Please submit all questions in advance of Thursday 30 October.

We will provide updates on the status of the broadcast on this page.